3-star offensive lineman checks out Illini

3-star offensive lineman Bryce Bailey from Newburgh (Ind.) Castle recently made a trip to Champaign with his family.

The visit for a spring practice was all about getting know to the new Illini coaching staff, including head coach Lovie Smith, his potential position coach Luke Butkus, and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee.

An added bonus was getting to talk with graduating defensive lineman Jihad Ward, who was chosen by the Raiders in the second round of NFL Draft on Friday.

“I spent the whole day with the coaching staff,” Bailey said. “We sat in meetings with Coach Butkus and met with Coach Smith and Coach McGee. It was awesome getting to meet Jihad Ward while he was working out in the indoor.”

A 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle, Bailey currently holds an offer from the Illini and is one of their top offensive line targets.

Bailey got the full campus tour, and then watched the Illini go through one of their last practices of the spring. His relationship with the coaching staff is a plus, and the Illini have a great shot at Bailey.

“Coach Smith seems like a real genuine guy and it is obvious after talking to him what all his players have bought into about then "We will win" motto,” Bailey said.

“Being around Coach Butkus was awesome because I got to know him as a person and as a coach and I can tell his players respect him.”

With new offers and interest coming in, Bailey is taking visits and sorting through his list of schools.

"I recently picked up offers from Vanderbilt, Louisville, FAU, Colorado State, and Harvard,” Bailey said. “I went on the visit to Illinois last week and Vanderbilt the week before that.”

According to Bailey, he isn’t yet ready to trim his list or make a final college decision.

“I have no idea how far along I am in the process,” he said. “I'd like to be committed before my senior year, but I'm willing to wait if I have to”.

One thing in the Illini’s favor is that Bailey is looking for a school that plays in a Power 5 conference and has a good academic reputation.

“I'm really looking for a strong academic institution that plays football at a high level in a competitive conference,” Bailey said.